On the Use of the Repeated-Sprint Training in Hypoxia in Tennis

Abstract

PurposeTo examine physiological and technical responses to repeated-sprint training in normobaric hypoxia at ∼3,000 m (RSH, n = 11) or in normoxia (RSN, n = 11) compared to a control group (CON, n = 8) in well-trained tennis players. Participants were 28.8 ± 5.9 years old without any previous experience of training in hypoxia.MethodsIn addition to maintaining their usual training (CON), both RSH and RSN groups completed five tennis specific repeated-shuttle sprint sessions (4 × 5 × ∼8 s maximal sprints with ∼22 s passive recovery and ∼5 min rest between sets) over 12 days. Before (Pre), the week after (Post-1) and 3 weeks after Post-1 (Post-2), physical/technical performance during Test to Exhaustion Specific to Tennis (TEST), repeated-sprint ability (RSA) (8 × ∼20 m shuttle runs—departing every 20 s) and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed.ResultsFrom Pre to Post-1 and Post-2, RSH improved TEST time to exhaustion (+18.2 and +17.3%; both P < 0.001), while the “onset of blood lactate accumulation” at 4 mmol L–1 occurred at later stages (+24.4 and +19.8%, both P < 0.01). At the same time points, ball accuracy at 100% V̇O2max increased in RSH only (+38.2%, P = 0.003 and +40.9%, P = 0.007). Markers of TEST performance did not change for both RSN and CON. Compared to Pre, RSA total time increased significantly at Post-1 and Post-2 (−1.9 and −2.5%, P < 0.05) in RSH only and this was accompanied by larger absolute Δ total hemoglobin (+82.5 and +137%, both P < 0.001). HRV did not change either supine or standing positions.ConclusionFive repeated sprint training sessions in hypoxia using tennis specific shuttle runs improve physiological and technical responses to TEST, RSA, and accompanying muscle perfusion responses in well-trained tennis players.

Mechanical, Cardiorespiratory, and Muscular Oxygenation Responses to Sprint Interval Exercises Under Different Hypoxic Conditions in Healthy Moderately Trained Men

“…On the other hand, sprint interval training (SIT) includes repeated long sprints (~30 s) interspaced by longer rest periods (~2–4 min) (Buchheit and Laursen, 2013a , b ; Brocherie et al, 2017 ). In recent years, studies have suggested that the addition of a hypoxic stimulus to chronic SIT and RST may favor several training responses (Faiss et al, 2013 ; Brocherie et al, 2017 ; Brechbuhl et al, 2020 ; James and Girard, 2020 ). For example, systemic hypoxia (HYP) may promote higher muscle perfusion and oxygenation with greater modulations of molecular adaptations (Faiss et al, 2013 ; Brocherie et al, 2017 ).…”

Effects of short-term repeated sprint training in hypoxia or with blood flow restriction on response to exercise

“…A priori power analyses were performed with alpha and beta errors of 0.05 and 0.20, respectively, and a medium effect size (f = 0.25) as it has been observed during these training protocols [4][5][6][7][8][9]. The required sample size was 36 split into four groups.…”

“…Similar or higher gains in several variables, including maximal oxygen uptake ( ), muscle oxidative capacity and time trial performance were shown compared to endurance training protocols achieved with higher training volume [ 1 – 3 ]. The addition of hypoxic stimulus to HIT has been increasingly acknowledged to favor training adaptations [ 4 – 9 ]. Performing exercise bouts under systemic hypoxia reduces arterial oxygen partial pressure and thus increases energy production through substrate-level phosphorylation [ 10 ] and adaptations such as enhanced mitochondrial density, oxidative enzyme activity, and capillary density [ 11 – 13 ].…”

Maximizing anaerobic performance with repeated-sprint training in hypoxia: In search of an optimal altitude based on pulse oxygen saturation monitoring

“…However, the evidence of any relationship between the HRV and RSA or anaerobic performances is far less clear. Indeed, training-induced improvement of RSA has been associated with either an increase ( Buchheit et al, 2012 ; de Oliveira et al, 2013 ), a decrease ( Buchheit et al, 2012 ; Merati et al, 2015 ) or no changes ( Brechbuhl et al, 2020 ) in parasympathetic activity (root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and high frequency (HF) power). Acute hypoxia alters HRV ( Wille et al, 2012 ; Krejčí et al, 2018 ) and may combine with repeated-sprint training to further stress autonomic nervous system.…”

“…Acute hypoxia alters HRV ( Wille et al, 2012 ; Krejčí et al, 2018 ) and may combine with repeated-sprint training to further stress autonomic nervous system. To the authors’ knowledge, only one study monitored resting HRV indices before and after RSH but failed to detect an association between performance enhancement and changes in HRV ( Brechbuhl et al, 2020 ). However, the authors did not record HRV during recovery, especially parasympathetic reactivation characterizing fitness level ( Buchheit 2014 ) which was found to increase after repeated-sprint training and high-intensity intermittent training in normoxia ( Buchheit et al, 2008 ; Vernillo et al, 2015 ).…”